Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread II

Glass Prison 1214 · 20-06-2013 08:07PM

macslash wrote: »

Could anyone remind me who we got in our Pool for the 2015 WC again?

Was it France & Argentina and others...? ta

France, Italy, and two undetermined lower ranking teams.

Lovely draw in my opinion.

macslash · 20-06-2013 08:08PM

ah right, thanks

Mahatma Geansai · 25-06-2013 07:17PM

Reported in the Indo that POC is likely to become Ireland captain under Schmidt. It couldn't be more deserved.

irishbucsfan · 25-06-2013 07:20PM

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Reported in the Indo that POC is likely to become Ireland captain under Schmidt. It couldn't be more deserved.

I think it'd be great if it happens. Schmidt reaching out to non-Leinster players.

Hagz · 25-06-2013 07:22PM

With O'Driscoll in his last year, it's a good choice. The last thing you'd want to do is throw it back to O'Driscoll when he's only got 1 season to go. O'Connell is the next obvious candidate, and he's looking like he'll be around for the World Cup. Good choice.

Podge_irl · 25-06-2013 07:28PM

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Reported in the Indo that POC is likely to become Ireland captain under Schmidt. It couldn't be more deserved.

Wonder what their supposed source is.

I'd find it odd that Schmidt would have come to any decision seeing as he hasn't even been in camp with POC yet.

Edit: I don't have a problem with the decision if true (though I think its a bit harsh on Heaslip). I just find it difficult to believe he's made a decision yet.

Mahatma Geansai · 25-06-2013 07:30PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think it'd be great if it happens. Schmidt reaching out to non-Leinster players.

Think its more that he's the obvious choice. He was very unlucky to miss out in 09 due to Kidney preferring to keep BOD and not rock the boat.

From what I've heard, the back surgery has allowed him to be in his best shape in years. He should be hoping for at least another 2 years at the top.

Podge_irl · 25-06-2013 07:31PM

Mahatma Geansai wrote: »

Think its more that he's the obvious choice. He was very unlucky to miss out in 09 due to Kidney preferring to keep BOD and not rock the boat.

I don't think he was unlucky at all and I don't think Kidney keeping BOD was anything to do with not rocking the boat. Would have been the height of weirdness to take the captaincy off BOD at that point.

Its well deserved if true though.

PhatPiggins · 25-06-2013 08:01PM

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I think it'd be great if it happens. Schmidt reaching out to non-Leinster players.

Clever politics from Schmidt if its true and tbh honest POC is the obvious choice to lead them to the next WC.

Heaslip is flourishing (yet again) when he doesn't have the added pressure of captaincy.

ScissorPaperRock · 25-06-2013 08:11PM

We'd be missing a trick not having POC as captain, to be honest. He's got to be one of the most respected players in northern hemisphere rugby, for his character as much as his skill and workrate.

Ugo Monye spacecraft experience · 25-06-2013 08:26PM

Great choice.

conor1979 · 25-06-2013 08:27PM

As much as I think he deserve's it with his injuring record is it a good idea?

If he is to stay injury free then fine but if he is in and out as he has been for the last couple of years surely it would be a bit disruptive to the team.

Buer · 25-06-2013 08:31PM

Before we get ahead of ourselves, there's not one source in the article that suggests it. Plus, it's the Indo. No other paper has mentioned it.

Podge_irl · 25-06-2013 08:37PM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Heaslip is flourishing (yet again) when he doesn't have the added pressure of captaincy.

Heaslip is flourishing again when not in a team playing godawful rugby with a toxic atmosphere. I think its harsh to just anyone on the 6N just gone.

padser · 25-06-2013 08:47PM

Buer wrote: »

Before we get ahead of ourselves, there's not one source in the article that suggests it. Plus, it's the Indo. No other paper has mentioned it.

Agreed that there is no source...however he is the obvious choice. Heaslip was given the captaincy in his absence so it's not exactly a kick in the teeth for him to lose it to POC now. Drico has ruled himself out of the World Cup. Best is a candidate but really POC is the stand out one.

Even without a source and coming from the info I would say its true. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day

jm08 · 25-06-2013 09:20PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

Heaslip is flourishing again when not in a team playing godawful rugby with a toxic atmosphere. I think its harsh to just anyone on the 6N just gone.

And the captain would be blameless if there was a toxic atmosphere?

P.Walnuts · 25-06-2013 09:24PM

Think its time to unfollow this thread for a while....

.ak · 25-06-2013 09:25PM

jm08 wrote: »

And the captain would be blameless if there was a toxic atmosphere?

Absolutely, considering the timeline. I think he's talking more about Kidney losing the dressing room. Which seems to have happened long before Heaslip was brought in.

jm08 · 25-06-2013 09:29PM

.ak wrote: »

Absolutely, considering the timeline. I think he's talking more about Kidney losing the dressing room. Which seems to have happened long before Heaslip was brought in.

Well, they seemed to have a very happy camp last November when Heislip first came in (some of the Ulster lads said in interview that they were having such a good time in camp, they didn't go home for their breaks).

They had a pretty good start to the 6Ns (win over Wales). It all went belly-up when the going got difficult with injuries.

CIARAN_BOYLE · 25-06-2013 09:33PM

Not sure on POC as captain due his injury record. Could be rather disruptive. If POC is captain I hope extra emphasis is placed on developing a group of leaders in the team, (Heaslip, Best, POM ect) so that there can be smooth transition in case of injury.

That said a fit POC is a great leader so he will carry a lot of positives in as captain.

Podge_irl · 25-06-2013 09:35PM

jm08 wrote: »

They had a pretty good start to the 6Ns (win over Wales). It all went belly-up when the going got difficult with injuries.

It went belly up long before that with the results.

Besides, there were claims of Ireland being a fantastically happy camp all the way until EOS was let go. I really put no stock in player's public pronouncements, if they directly announce anything is wrong then their PR training is poor.

I have no issue with POC being made captain, its an honour he fully deserves. I don't believe for a second Schmidt has actually made a decision seeing as he hasn't had the full squad in camp yet and I don't think Heaslip's resurgence in form for the Lions has anything to do with him not being captain. I also think making such an old player with an injury record captain could be a problem. I would not be remotely surprised if the Indo were pulling this out of the usual arse of journalistic integrity they normally source their stories from.

jm08 · 25-06-2013 09:47PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

It went belly up long before that with the results.

Besides, there were claims of Ireland being a fantastically happy camp all the way until EOS was let go. I really put no stock in player's public pronouncements, if they directly announce anything is wrong then their PR training is poor.

Heaslip was like a kid in a sweetshop when he was made captain. He enjoyed it so much, he was delighted to get it again for the 6Ns. And why would Henry & Cave say they didn't go home when they could during the Nov series if the camp was so miserably. They didn't have to say anything at all.

I have no issue with POC being made captain, its an honour he fully deserves. I don't believe for a second Schmidt has actually made a decision seeing as he hasn't had the full squad in camp yet and I don't think Heaslip's resurgence in form for the Lions has anything to do with him not being captain. I also think making such an old player with an injury record captain could be a problem. I would not be remotely surprised if the Indo were pulling this out of the usual arse of journalistic integrity they normally source their stories from.

One of the questions Schmidt asked Leo Cullen when he met him first was 'what did he (Cullen) think POC thought of him - did he think POC respected him etc. so even back then Schmidt seemed to have a very high opinion of POC.

If you listen to some of the interviews with the non-Irish players in the Lions at the moment when asked the question who they look up to in the Lions, not one of them has mentioned Heaslip as someone they look up to (POC & BOD are the two they all mention).

Podge_irl · 25-06-2013 09:58PM

jm08 wrote: »

And why would Henry & Cave say they didn't go home when they could during the Nov series if the camp was so miserably. They didn't have to say anything at all.

I'm sure they were asked a question and had to answer something. I'm constantly amazed anyone puts any stock in what pro players say in interviews - they are trained for these kind of things. Every year they are better prepared than the last and the atmosphere is better than the year before.

I'm sure Schmidt thinks incredibly highly of POC - I'd be surprised if anyone didn't. I also don't doubt that Lions players look up to POC and BOD - they are absolute legends of the game.

There is no need to take what I say as some kind of personal sleight on POC. I'm just saying I think the Indo is a rag, don't believe what they say as its premature and based on nothing and feel that, while I have no problem with POC being made captain, judging Heaslip and his captaincy on the 6N past is unfair.

Christy42 · 25-06-2013 10:43PM

Podge_irl wrote: »

I'm sure they were asked a question and had to answer something. I'm constantly amazed anyone puts any stock in what pro players say in interviews - they are trained for these kind of things. Every year they are better prepared than the last and the atmosphere is better than the year before.

I'm sure Schmidt thinks incredibly highly of POC - I'd be surprised if anyone didn't. I also don't doubt that Lions players look up to POC and BOD - they are absolute legends of the game.

There is no need to take what I say as some kind of personal sleight on POC. I'm just saying I think the Indo is a rag, don't believe what they say as its premature and based on nothing and feel that, while I have no problem with POC being made captain, judging Heaslip and his captaincy on the 6N past is unfair.

That doesn't mean the default from the previous manager has to be adhered to. The manager should pick who he thinks will be the best captain, whether or not the last one has had a real chance in the position. POC is a bigger presence than Heaslip and so seems like a better choice.

I am suprised no one mentioned Sexton. He always seems to be giving talks in the huddle and confident enough to impose the game plan on a game. I think POC is the better choice but I see Sexton as a future leader.

Teferi · 25-06-2013 11:07PM

Heaslip will remain captain.

Feel free to quote me on this come November.

.ak · 26-06-2013 12:14AM

To be honest, I'd be surprised if POC is captain... I don't think he will be, for the very same reason he won't be captain for Munster - he's too injury prone.

For the record, I think he's the next best Captain after BOD, but I think Heaslip has oodles of potential in that area too so I don't really mind either way.

Teferi · 26-06-2013 12:22AM

.ak wrote: »

To be honest, I'd be surprised if POC is captain... I don't think he will be, for the very same reason he won't be captain for Munster - he's too injury prone.

For the record, I think he's the next best Captain after BOD, but I think Heaslip has oodles of potential in that area too so I don't really mind either way.

To add to this Joe obviously saw Heaslip as captain-in-waiting at Leinster so I'd imagine he will be happy to continue with Jamie as captain.

Poc is probably the standout candidate but I'd agree with you, too injury prone at this stage.

jm08 · 26-06-2013 12:39AM

Teferi wrote: »

To add to this Joe obviously saw Heaslip as captain-in-waiting at Leinster so I'd imagine he will be happy to continue with Jamie as captain.

Poc is probably the standout candidate but I'd agree with you, too injury prone at this stage.

Will Jamie not be needed to captain Leinster next season? Can't see Leo being made captain again for his final year and there are no other obvious candidates other than Shane Jennings who isn't a definate starter anymore.

What difference does it make if the captain is injury prone anyway? It gives other players a chance to step up for a game or two without having to carry the job fulltime.

Foxtrol · 26-06-2013 12:40AM

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Clever politics from Schmidt if its true and tbh honest POC is the obvious choice to lead them to the next WC.

From everything I've seen of Schmidt he is not one to make decisions due to politics, if he picks POC it will be because he thinks he's the best man for the job, not to appease anybody politically.

I'm not sure he's the obvious choice given the fact he's barely getting a handful of games together between injuries. What does it do to Heaslip to strip him of captaincy only for it to be given back to him the next time POC is injured?

For me all things considered it should stay with Heaslip.

jm08 · 26-06-2013 12:51AM

Foxtrol wrote: »

From everything I've seen of Schmidt he is not one to make decisions due to politics, if he picks POC it will be because he thinks he's the best man for the job, not to appease anybody politically.

I'm not sure he's the obvious choice given the fact he's barely getting a handful of games together between injuries. What does it do to Heaslip to strip him of captaincy only for it to be given back to him the next time POC is injured?

For me all things considered it should stay with Heaslip.

POC has had a run of 12 games up to his recent injury which isn't too bad. Much better than Warburton for instance who captains Wales.

Ireland Team Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread II

Comments